2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST PRODUCER

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best ProducerAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Josh Barber- Idle Heirs
02) Jade Puget- AFI
03) Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross- Nine Inch Nails
04) Sanford Parker and James Hammontree- Black Magnet
05) John Rojas- Machinekit
06) Steve Evetts- Deadguy
07) Jordan Olds- Blood Vulture
08) McKeever and GOSTEFFECTS- Heavy Halo
09) Sonny DiPerri- Blackwater Holylight
10) Pete/Sam Loeffler and Kemble Walters- Chevelle

2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST VOCALIST

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best VocalistAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Will Benoit- SOM
02) Cassidy Fleeman- The Anti Groupies
03) Josh Graham- Guiltless
04) Davey Havok- AFI
05) Jordan Olds- Blood Vulture
06) Sunny Faris- Blackwater Holylight
07) Trent Reznor- Nine Inch Nails
08) Sean Ingram- Idle Heirs
09) Mike McKeever- Heavy Halo
10) Kal Michael- The Owling

2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST GUITAR DUO

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best Guitar DuoAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Mike Repasch-Nieves/Joel Reynolds- SOM
02) Cassidy Fleeman/Isabella Broersma- The Anti Groupies
03) Josh Graham/Dan Hawkins- Guiltless
04) Chris Traynor/Gavin Rossdale- Bush
05) Chino Moreno/Stephen Carpenter- Deftones
06) Claudio Sanchez/Travis Stever- Coheed and Cambria
07) Chris Corvino/Keith Huckins- Deadguy
08) James Hammontree/Ryne Bratcher- Black Magnet
09) Patrick Jensen/Ola Englund- The Haunted
10) Jesper Stromblad/Niclas Engelin- The Halo Effect

2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST GUITARIST

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best GuitaristAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Jade Puget- AFI
02) Joe Hunt- Nine Necks
03) Jordan Olds- Blood Vulture
04) Mikayla Mayhew- Blackwater Holylight
05) Mike McKeever- Heavy Halo
06) Josh Barber- Idle Heirs
07) Kal Michael- The Owling
08) Reba Meyers- Reba Meyers
09) Pete Loeffler- Chevelle
10) Roman Ibramkhalilvov- Jinjer

2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST DRUMMER

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best DrummerAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Adam Carson- AFI
02) Patrick Bellinger- Nine Necks
03) Dave Rosenberg- Deadguy
04) Eliese Dorsay- Blackwater Holylight
05) Billy Graves- Guiltless
06) Justin Forrest- SOM
07) Kyla Foster- The Anti Groupies
08) Moe Watson- Blood Vulture
09) Sam Loeffler- Chevelle
10) Art Quanstrom- The Owling

2025 END OF THE YEAR LISTS: BEST BASSIST

What a great year 2025 has been for music. So many great albums, tours, songs, you name it. And now the time has come for…

The 2025 Audioeclectica End Of The Year Lists begin with the list for Best BassistAs always the stipulation for this is that an Album or EP had to be released in 2025.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Hunter Burgan- AFI
02) Matt Bellinger- Nine Necks
03) Jim Baglino- Deadguy
04) Sunny Faris- Blackwater Holylight
05) Sacha Dunable- Guiltless
06) Justin Forrest- SOM
07) Sydney Moore- The Anti Groupies
08) Jordan Olds- Blood Vulture
09) Kemble Walters- Chevelle
10) Zach Cooper- Coheed And Cambria

ANTICIPATED ALBUMS: BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT- NOT HERE NOT GONE

There’s something about the feeling that comes over you when you hear a band that strikes at the right time. It’s not that I haven’t listened to this band before but, the way their new music sparked a sense of “Yes! This is what I’m looking for and I wasn’t even looking.” With that in mind, Blackwater Holylight is the band I’m talking about and if you haven’t heard this fantastic band, you’ve been missing out. In 2026, January 30th to be exact, Blackwater Holylight will be releasing their new album, Not Here Not Gone (via Suicide Squeeze Records). Packed with a sound that is as much intoxicating as it is hypnotic is quite the treat. The elements of shoegaze, doom and metal mixed with the atmospheric/cinematic synths, underlying pulsing rhythms that feel like waves and vocals that soar and swoon, are exactly what I hear in Blackwater Holylight. The two songs released so far, “Heavy, Why?” and “Involuntary Haze” are whimsical and the perfect way to introduce what’s to come. A full US tour will be happening next year with two bands that have been featured on Audioeclectica, Glassing and SOM. The idea of SOM and Blackwater Holylight on the same bill is actually blowing my mind as I think and write this. Truly, I can’t wait for this new album to hit right out of 2026. Now, go check out Blackwater Holylight!

Heavy, Why?:

Involuntary Haze:


Pre-Order NOT HERE NOT GONE:

TOUR DATES:

Glassing supports 2/13-2/27. SOM supports 2/27-3/14.

Fri 2/13 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
Sat 2/14 – Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit
Sun 2/15 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
Tue 2/17 – Austin, TX – Radio/East
Wed 2/18 – Houston, TX – White Oak
Thu 2/19 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia
Fri 2/20 – Pensacola, FL – Handlebar
Sat 2/21 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
Sun 2/22 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Tue 2/24 – Charlottesville, VA – Southern Cafe
Wed 2/25 – Baltimore, MD – Metro
Thu 2/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Fri 2/27 – Brooklyn, NY – Meadows
Sat 2/28 – Braintree, MA – Widowmaker Brewing
Mon 3/02 – Youngstown, OH – Westside Bowl
Tue 3/03 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle
Wed 3/04 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village
Fri 3/06 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Sat 3/07 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Sun 3/08 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High
Tue 3/10 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Wed 3/11 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Thu 3/12 – Sacramento, CA – Starlet
Fri 3/13 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Sat 3/14 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
Sat 3/21 – Los Angeles, CA – Pacific Electric

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE OWLING- YOU DON’T BOW YOU WILL LEARN

I love albums that you can put on and let them just take you on a ride. Then there is that feeling you get when that right chord, melody or rhythm strikes. Also, it’s really refreshing to hear a band make an actual “album” and not just a collection of songs! Let me introduce you to, The Owling! This two piece Los Angeles based band is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Their sound is the perfect mix of 90’s Rock, Doom and Sludge with a very cinematic/poetic approach. The Owling’s debut album, You Don’t Bow You Will Learn, is a of righteous slab of riffs, and driving rhythms with vocals that soar. Think about driving down an open desert highway at sunset or sunrise with the windows down and this album blasting. Are you there yet? That’s exactly how this album feels. With each listen you find a different song to be your favorite. One other aspect about You Don’t Bow You Will Learn that I really enjoy is the use of space/ambience. When you listen, at certain moments, it’s almost like the fog machine is on and you get lost in the epic nature of the song. I very much look forward to what 2026 will bring for The Owling! Check out this band and be sure to buy a copy of their debut album and see them live! Also, quick shout out to Dean Karr for his badassery of great photo’s of the band and album cover. Talk about nailing an essence in a photo!

The Owling- You Don’t Bow You Will Learn:

MEMORABLE LIVE PERFORMANCES: TOOL- CRAWL AWAY 2025

During Tool’s most recent tour in Australia, the band pulled out songs they haven’t played live in years. I don’t just mean like 5 years. We are talking 20 years plus. Songs that fans all over the world have been anticipating to make it in the set list for years. One of those that was played just so happened to be “Crawl Away.” “Crawl Away” is in my top 5 favorite Tool songs of all time. I absolutely love this song. And of course they bring it out and play it in Australia. Fun fact, “Crawl Away” up until this point had not been played live in 26 years. Yes that’s right TWENTYSIX YEARS! Up until November 22, 2025, the last time Tool played “Crawl Away” live was August 8, 1998. That’s just absurd and way to long to go without playing this song! So, here it is, “Crawl Away” LIVE for the first time in 26 years! Thankfully someone in the audience filmed it. Sorry Maynard but, this was a necessary filming!

Tool- Crawl Away (Live In Australia, 2025: First Time In 26 Years):

END OF ALBUM SONGS: JOY DIVISION- I REMEMBER NOTHING

No matter how many times I’ve listened to Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, I always find something new to love about it. For a long time I’ve been really getting into all the sounds and instruments they used on this album and live. Which brings me to today’s article. The final song on Unknown Pleasures, “I Remember Nothing.” This song, is truly remarkable. The dissonance and space throughout the whole song is stunning. From the way the drums and bass are so subtle yet at the same time, chilling. Then you add in the vocals and the delivery and how that sits like a cloud. The use of synthesizers on here is stark but poignant. And then you add in the added effects of smashing bottles in such a timely manner that, it in an eerie way almost “brightens” the mood. Call me crazy but, there’s something really intense about all this. Without a doubt, Unknown Pleasures is an absolute perfect album. It’s in my top 25 of all time and it’s not leaving there ever!

Joy Division- I Remember Nothing: